Partition for railway cars



June 30, 1931. 'c. E; JOHNSON PABTITION'F'OR RAILWAY c'ARs 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTO/T.

(71/9/1155 4. JOHNSON, MW

June 30, 1931. c. E. JOHNSON 1,311,338

' PARTITION FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Dec.. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/v VE/V 70/7.

6/07/7155 JoH/v50/v.

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES l,ll,888

PATENT CHARLES E. JOHNSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESGTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 DAVID E. EISENSTADT, OF. MINNEAPGLIS, MINNESGTA PAR-TTTION FOR RAILWAY CAB-S Application filed December 21, 1827.

This invention relates to partitions for railway cars and particularly to movable partitions for dividing stock cars. lVhen shipping sheep, cattle, hogs and other ani- ;mals, it is often desirable to partition off a portion of a stock car so as to segregate certain animals from others or to segregate the animals from other goods that may be shipped in the car. Heretofore, it has been the common practice for shippers to erect temporary board partitions in the cars by nailing the same to the sides of the cars at the time when the stock has been shipped. These partitions have been broken away when the cars reached the stock yards. The material composing the partitions has been wasted, inasmuch as it cannot be used again on the return run of the cars, and the studding of the cars has been materially damaged and weakened from the use of nails and bolts in securing the partitions in place.

It is the object of this invention therefore to provide partitions for railway stock cars which can be used to divide the interior of the car into a plurality of different sized compartments and which can be stowed away so as not to interfere with the use of the en-- the length of the car if so desired.

A further object is to provide such apartition comprising a movable gate which can be placed transversely of the car at various positions therein and can be supported at one end, while being moved from one position to another, whereby thegate can be made of quite heavy construction, and yet can be readily operated by a single person.

Yet another object is to provide such a gate which can be used to divide the interior of the car into either approximately half sections or quarter and three quarter sections, or which can be placed out of the way either at one end of the car or adjacent the top of the car to clear the interior thereof.

It is another object to provide such a gate which can be swung upwardly adjacent the door of the car to permit the entrance of stock into one end of the car, whereupon the gate may be swung downwardly and secured in any one of a plurality of different positions to divide the interior of the car.

Serial No. 241,528.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same-or similar parts throughout the various views and, in which,

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section of a stock car showing one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto and illustrating the movable gate of the invention in one position in full lines and in three other positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of one of the guide members;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation .on an enlarged scale of another portion of one of the guide members;

Fig. 4: is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating a type of dividing gate that may be used and Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 as is indicated by the arrows, Fig. 5 being taken on a still larger scale than Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings approximately half of a standard railway stock car '6 having the doorway 7 is illustrated. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of guide members 8 are provided which are secured to opposing side walls of the car 6 in spaced relation from the floor and top of the car. The guide members 8 are disposed at the same height from the floor of the car and extend generally in a horizontal planevfrom adjacent the doorway 7 to one end of the car. The guide members 8 are preferably substantially C-shape in cross section so as to provide channels throughout their lengths for reception of wheels. At eachend and at their central portions, the guide members 8 are provided with downward extensions projecting at substantiallyright angles to the main horizontal portions of the guide members. The extensions at the end of the guide members adjacent the doorway 7 are designated 9; The extensions at the centers of the guide members are designated '10 and the extensions at the ends of the guide members adjacent the end of the car are designated 11. Each of the extensions 9, and 11 is substantially C-shape in cross section, is quite short in length, communicates with the channel in the main portion of one of the guide members and is closed at its lower end. Extensions 12, disposed horizontally at their upper ends, are provided adjacent the top of the car and adjacent the end thereof. The said extensions 12 are closed at their ends adjacent the end of the car, are substantially Q-shape in cross section and communicate with the guide members 8. In the emboeimcnt shown, the extensions 12 are shown as being of right an le shape in front elevation, first extending directly upwardly from the guide members 8 and then being bent at right angles to pro ject toward the end of the car. he form of the said extensions may be varied if desired. Directly below each of the extensions 9, 10 and 11, short retaining members 13 are provided, which are secured to the side walls of the car adjacent the floor of the car but spaced slightly above the floor. The said retaining guide members 13 are substantially C-shape in cross section are closed at their ends facing the end of the car and are open at their ends facing the center of the car. Retaining guide members 14 are secured to the side walls of the car adjacent the top thereof and are disposed in the same horizontal plane as the upper portions of extensions 12. The retaining guide members 14 are also substantially C-shape in cross section, are closed at their ends facing the end of the car and are open at their ends facing the center of the car. The guide members 8 preferably adjacent the ends thereof near the doorway 7 are provided with rectangular openings 15 on their upper sides, and vertical openings 16 are cut in the upper inner side edges of the guide members which afford communication between the central portions of the openings 15 and the slots formed on the inner sides of the guide members.

A heavily constructed rectangular gate 17 is provided which, as shown, may be eonstructed from a plurality of upright and transverse bars bolted or otherwise secured together. Four strap bearings 18 are secured to each of the upper and lower edges of the gate 17 and are spaced apart in'pairs. J ournaled in the various pairs of bearings 18 and extending transversely of the gate 17 are the shafts 19 carrying at their outer ends wheels 20 of such size as to fit within the channels of the guide members 8. The said shafts are quite long so that they may be extended laterally from the sides of the gate 17 and the lateral extension of the shafts are limited by collars 21 secured to the shafts adjacent their inner ends. Collars 22 are also provided adjacent the outer ends of the shafts 19, spaced slightly inwardly from the Wheels 20. The lower corners of the gate 17 are cut away at 23 so that the lower shafts 19 may be swung inwardly to permit the lower wheels 20 to be situated within the vertical outline of the sides of the gate 17. Short chains 24 carrying depending pins 25 are secured to the gate 17 adjacent both lower corners thereof.

The width of the gate 17 is approximately equal to but slightly shorter than the distance between the two guide members 8. In applying the gate to the guide members, the lower shafts 19 will be inwardly slid to the position shown in Fig. i, whereupon the gate will be placed so that the upper wheels 20 extend over the top sides of the guide members 8 and bears on the same, with the body of the gate extending transversely of the car between the guide members. The upper shafts 19 will then be so extended that the upper wheels 20 extend immediately over the rectangular openings 15, whereupon the gate will be allowed to drop slightly to permit the upper wheels to be carried into the channels of the guide members through the openings 15, the upper shafts 19 falling through the openings 16. The slots on the inner faces of the guide members 8 are of such width that the shafts 19 may run through the same without binding and the gate will be supported on the guide memb rs by the upper wheels 20. If now it is desired to divide the car into approximately half sections, the gate will be run toward the center of the car until the upper wheels 20 fall within the extensions 9. The lower end of the gate will then be swung toward the center of the car and the lower shafts 19 extended slightly laterally from the sides of the gate until the wheels are in such position that as the gate is swung toward the end of the car, the lower wheels will be carried within the retaining guide members 13 below extensions 9. Pin holes are provided through the guide members 13 and the pins 25 may be inserted within said pin holes to firmly hold the gate in the lVl1en it is desired to divide the car into a quarter length division and a three quarter length division, the pins 25 will be removed, whereupon the lower end of the gate will be swung toward the center of the car to release the lower wheels 20 from the retaining guide members 13 below extensions 9. The lower shafts 19 will then be slid inwardly until the lower wheels 20 fit within the vertical outlines of the sides of the gate, whereupon the gate will be raised and pLshed toward the end of the car until the upper wheels 20 fall within the extensions 10. The lower wheels 20 may then be secured in the securing guide members'13 below extensions 10 as previously secured in the guide members 13 below extensions 9. In similar manner, the gate may be secured adjacent the end of the car in vertical position as is illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 1, by causing the upper wheels to be carried into the extensions 11. lVhen the gate is secured in the last mentioned position, the car will be cleared and the ate 17 will not interfere with the loading of the car throughout its entire length.

If it should be desired to place the gate in out of the way position adjacent the top of the car, the gate will be pushed immedi ately below the lower ends of extensions 12, whereupon the upper end of the gate may be upwardly raised to cause the upper wheels to ride within the extensions 12 and the gate will then be pushed toward the end of the car until the upper wheels are spaced from the vertical portions of the extensions 12. The lower end of the gate may then be upwardly swung and the lower shafts 19 extended until the lower wheels are in horizontal alinement with the retaining guide members 14. The whole gate may then be slid toward the end of the car until it assumes the position adjacent the top of the car illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon the pins 25 may be secured with in pin holes provided in the retaining guide members 1 1 to firmly hold the gate in its position.

Vhile the car is being loaded between the end thereof and the point where the gate is to be placed, it is lesirable to hold the gate with its lower end in upwardly swung position so that the stock can enter the car beneath the gate. Beforev the car is loaned therefor, the gate will preferably be run toward the center of the car so that the upper wheels 20 extend within the main portion of the guide members adjacent the extensions 9, but do not project within the said extensions. The lower end of the gate is then swung upwardly and may be held in upwardly swung position adjacent the top of the car by detents 26 secured over the doorway 7. hen the gate is in such upwardly swung position, so that a bearing is afforded by the detents 26 against certain portions of the gate, the gate is run toward the center of the car until the upper wheels 20 fall within extensions 9. The gate will then assume the oblique position illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 1. Stock may now be driven into the car beneath the gate,'whereupon the gate may be released from its upwardly swung position and may be so positioned as to divide the car as desired. It will be seen that if desired, the lower wheels of the gate maybe extended from the sides of the gate so that they can beinserted through the openings 15 into the guide members 8. It will thus be clear,

if desired, that the whole gate may beheld within the guide members '8 for loading or for similar purposes. It will also be understood. that, if desired, the whole gate may be removed from the guide members 8, and

either taken out of the car altogether or otherwise disposed of within the car.

Due to the fact that the gate will be at all times carried at its upper end within the guide members 8 orthe adjoining extensions 9, 10, 11 or 12, it will be seen that the gate may be easily handled and moved from one position to another even though the same bemade of heavy construction. At all times during the movement of the gate, the upper end will be supported and guided and, therefore, it will be a comparatively easy matter for one man to operate the gate. Due to the fact that both the upper and lower shafts 19 are extensible to various distances from the sides of the gate, it will be seen that the gate may be 7 adjusted to fit within cars which have their sides sprung apart varying distances throughout their length. Also gates of the same sizes may be used in cars of different widths. The wheels 20 will roll easily within the guide members 8 so that very little effort will be required to push or pull the upper end of the gate as it is moved'from one'position to another.

The type of gate used, the type of guide members used and the type of retaining means for securing the lower ends of the gate may be considerably varied if desired. It will also be understood that various other changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts of the device without departing from the scope of the present invention which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. In a railway car, a pair of substan-.

tially horizontally disposed guide members secured to-the sides of the car in spaced relation from the floor thereof, a gate adapted to be disposed between said guide members, short vertical guide ,members communicating with an extending downwardly from said first mentioned guide members at spaced intervals thereon, short horizontally disposed guide members secured to said walls directly below said second mentioned guide members, wheels mounted on said gate at either side thereof at top and bottom, the

lower wheels being capable of being disposed. within the outline of the sides of said gate but being extensible outwardly therefrom, whereby said upper wheels may be mounted within said first mentioned guide members for movement therein from one set of said second mentioned guide members toanother, whereupon said lower wheels may be secured in said third mentioned guide members to retain said gate in place in such position that it divides the car into two sections.

2. In a railway car, a pair of substantially horizontal main guide members secured to opposing side walls of the car in spaced relation from the bottom thereof, a pair of secondary short horizontal guide members adjacent the top of the car and communicating with said main guide members, a gate adapted to extend between said main guide members, means carried at the upper end of said gate adapted to extend within said main or secondary guide members to support the upper end of the gate, and to permit movement of the same from point to point in said guide members, means for securing said gate in spaced points in said Car to divide the interior thereof when said gate is depending from said main guide members, and means for securing said gate adjacent the top of the car in out of the way position when said first mentioned means are extended within said secondary guide members.

3. In a railway car, means for dividing same comprising, horizontal guide members disposed on opposing walls of said car in spaced relation from the floor thereof, spaced vertical extensions on said guide members communicating with the same, a gate adapted to extend between said guide members, wheels mounted at the upper end of said gate, extensible laterally from the same and adapted to fit within said guide members and extensions for movement therein, small 1 guide members mounted on the walls of said car directly below each of said extensions, wheels mounted at the lower end of said gate and extensible laterally therefrom to swing into said small guide members when the upper wheels are disposed in said extensions, said guide members having openings therein for removal or insertion or both the upper and lower wheels of said gate.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and extensions from said guide members projecting upwardly therefrom to adjacent the top of the car and communicating with said guide members, whereby said gate may be swung upwardly to lie in a substantially horizontal plane adjacent the top of the car with the upper wheels secured in said last mentioned extensions and means for securing the lower wheels to hold the gate in the upwardly swung position.

5. In a railway car, means for dividing the car into diiferent sized sect-ions comprising, a pair of track members of C-shape in cross section adapted to be secured to opposite walls of the car at a spaced distance from the bottom thereof, vertical extensions communicating with and extending from said track members at spaced intervals thereon, a movable gate of such width as to extend between the track members, extensible shafts mounted at the top and bottom of said gate at either side thereof, wheels secured to the outer ends of each of said shafts and adapted to fit within said track members to ride therein and means adapted to be mounted on the walls of the car below each of said extensions for securing the lower end of the gate in place to divide the car when the upper wheels of the gate have been run into a pair of said extensions and the gate is depending therefrom,

6. In a railway car, a pair of horizontally disposed main guide member of C-shape in cross section mounted on the walls of said car in spaced relation from the floor thereof, communicating guide members of C- shape in cross section extending at right angles to said main guide members at spaced intervals thereon, a gate of such a width as to extend between said guide members, transversely disposed shafts journaled in the upper ends of said gate and extensible laterally at the sides thereof, wheels mounted on the ends of said shafts and adapted to ride within said main and communicating guide members, transverse shafts journaled in the lower ones of said gate and extensible laterally at the sides thereof, wheels mounted on the ends of said last mentioned shafts and means mounted below said communicat ing guide members for releasably securing said last mentioned wheels to hold said gate in a plurality of vertical positions transversely of the car when said upper wheels are disposed in said communicating guide members.

7. In a railway car, means for dividing the car comprising, horizontally disposed wheel guides mounted on opposite side walls of the car in spaced relation from the floor of the car, said guides having a plurality of downwardly projecting extensions communicating with the main portions of said guides, said extensions being closed at their lower ends, a partition adapted to extend between said guides, pairs of transverse shafts journaled at the top and at the bottom of said partition, said shafts being laterally extensible from the sides of said partition, wheels mounted on the outer ends of aid shafts and adapted to fit within said guides and short open ended horizontally disposed guides secured to said side walls below said extensions and adapted to receive thereinthe lower wheels when the upper wheels are secured in said extensions and members adapted to close the open ends of said last mentioned guides.

8. In a railway car, means for dividing the same into different sized compartments comprising, a pair of guide members secured to opposing sides of the car in spaced relation from the floor thereof, a partition gate, means secured to said gate and running in said guide members to support the upper portion of said gate in a plurality of positions in said car, said gate having notches cut therein at its lower corners, bearings carried by said gate at its lower portion adjacent each side thereof shafts mounted in said bearings and extensible laterally from the sides of the gate, rollers carried on the outer ends of said shafts, said rollers being adapted to fit within said notches but being extensible with said shafts outwardly 10 from the sides of said gate and means at spaced points longitudinally of said carbe low said guide members and within which said rollers may be held when extended from the sides of the gate to hold said gate in a plurality of positions extended transversely of the car.

9. In a railway car, means for dividing the same into different sized compartments comprising, a pair of guide members secured to opposing sides of the car in spaced relation from the floor thereof, a partition gate, means secured to said gate and running in said guide members to support the upper portion of said gate in a plurality of positions in said car, a pair of rollers extensibly mounted in the lower portion of the gate for situation within the side outlines of the gate and for extension laterally from the sides of the gate and means at spaced points longitudinally of said car below said guide members within which said rollers maybe held when extended to secure said gate in a plurality of positions extended transversely of the car.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON. 

